As the month of November begins and Autumn gets into full swing, we Los Angeles Lakers fans start to get ready for Thanksgiving and Kobe Bryant‘s return, or do we? Reports say that Bryant has been sprinting, which would be the final step in his rehab, yet he has not seen normal practice time with his teammates, which would be the final step to him coming back on the court.
Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak stated ”I don’t see that in the next week or two because you’ve got to be on the court. You’ve got to practice. You’ve got to play,” in reference to the return of Bryant. The unknown return date along with whether or night Bryant is able to return to his previous form may begin to cause worry in the hearts of Lakers fans worldwide, and rightfully so.
Although Bryant still remains far ahead of the normal timetable to recover from his torn Achilles, it in no way, shape or form, guarantees that he will have the athletic ability he had previous to the injury. It often takes players time returning from serious injury to get back to 100 percent with their footwork and agility. For a player like Bryant, whose footwork is among the best of all time, this would clearly be a setback.
For now, it all remains speculation as the information is few and far between. The one thing that remains true is that the Black Mamba will do everything in his power to get back on the hardwood. There is not a competitor with his spirit and his fierce determination to be a Champion.
Be patient Lakers fans, Bryant will be back as soon as possible.
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